Day 19 Mansilla de las Mulas to Leon

Day 19, we started early as usual. This day Al was having issues with his finger. He had history of inflammation and had taken some steroids for it at home. He thought it was flaring up again. As we walked, Al, Peter and I began trying to find a solution.

Al giving thumbs up that he was ok

Peter and me sporting our hats

As we neared Leon, I noticed on the map in the guidebook, we would pass right by a hospital just as we entered Leon. Al, decided he would stop for a Dr. to look at his finger.

Coming into Leon

Al left Peter and I just as we started into Leon. We still had about 5 km (3.1 mi) more to the convent where we planned to stay. We walked in downtown Leon, through traffic. Went through a small park, where I saw a dog with the largest legs I had ever seen. I wish I got a picture of it.

As we entered the city, security was set up, we thought they would check passports, etc. But, they were there giving directions to the pilgrims.

Santa Maria de Carbajal

The Santa Maria de Carbajal, a Benedictine monastery was ran by nuns. They were very strict, men were in one dorm, women were in another. This is where we ran into a young lady, who had an 11 year old boy and an 8 month old baby. She had been walking the Camino. We teased the women we knew in the dorm, telling them they would have to take turns rocking the baby that night.

I had figured with Al's finger being swollen, that he may be better off in a private room. So I rented a hotel room for he and I. I figured he needed rest and a bit more sanitation than a room full of 100 pilgrims.
After a couple of hours, we began to worry about Al, so I backtracked to the hospital, about 3 miles. When I got there, I went in and using every ounce of my Spanish, I asked about Al. I gave gestures about Americana, with swollen finger. The nurse in charge said "Ci, Ci" then pointed to the door outside. Then she indicated that the hospital was not for medical reasons. She made a circular motion with her finger at her temple. Come to find out it was a mental hospital. We, got a lot of mileage out of it joking with Al! The lates edition of the guidebook, no longer show it as hospital but Asilo (Asylum).
By the time I got back, Al, had gotten directions to a clinic from the Asilo, and was back at the hotel. Turns out, he had been biten by a spider and had gotten meds. We toured the city and the Catedral de Santa María de Regla de León.

Catedral de Santa María de Regla de León

There was a tight schedule due to the doors closing at the albergue at 9 pm and the pilgrim meal being served at 8 pm, but the doors to the hotel Al and I stayed in were locked at 11 pm. So we were ok, the other folks had to scramble to get back in time.

We walked 18.6 km or 11.6 miles. If you tag on the extra 6 mile round trip I made to the asilo, then I had 17 miles, lol.